with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In his response to the Corinthians pertaining food offered to idols, the Apostle prefaced his response based on love and knowledge. Corinth was full of temples of many idols and food sacrificed to idols ended up selling in the market place and the other in eating houses. This created problems for the Corinthians Christians whether to eat or not to eat the food that was first sacrificed to idols. because the food was usually first offered to idols and Christians were not sure whether they should eat it. So here the Apostle deals with the nature of idolatry,
true and genuine worship and nature of faith. He offers love above knowledge and tolerance for one another above carelessness. He advises that if eating food sacrificed to idols made a brother to stumble in their faith and defiled their conscience, then it was better not to eat the food known.to have been sacrificed to idols. He says, however, neither eating nor abstinence from such foods can recommend people to God. But no man should use his Christian liberty in such a careless manner as to put a stumbling block before a brother.
*1️⃣1Corinthians 8:1-6: Love for each other is more preferable than knowledge. Idols are nothing for there is on God and one Lord Jesus Christ.*
⏹️On the subject of idols and food offered to them, some Corinthians claimed to have knowledge on the subject. But whether one knows what is right and wrong, knowledge is not enough. Knowledge is never perfect and can lead to pride but rather Christians should be guided in their behaviour by love and not merely by knowledge. The Apostle says, *"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing"(1 Corinthians 13:2).*
Love leads to growth and maturity, and tolerance towards one another, even when someone feels they have strong faith, they need to consider those of weak faith. The Apostle says, *"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ"(Ephesians 4:15).*
⏹️It is true that idols are a piece of wood, stone or metal and also lifeless, they don't constitute god, they neither see, eat, hear or walk but we have one God and one Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalmist says, *"They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths"(Psalm 135:16-17).*
⏭️Such knowledge of how useless idols are does not remove what God commanded against such images and worship of such items. The Lord commanded, *"You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the LORD your God"(Leviticus 26:1).*
*2️⃣️1Corinthians 8:7-13: Eating food offered to idols is a temptation to those of a weak conscience. Better the strong in faith avoid it than put a stumbling block on the brother.*
⏹️Christians are people who will have turned from following idols and traditions. Some will have worshipped idols thinking they are real, so their consciences are easily affected by anything connected with idolatry. So they felt it wrong to eat whatever food offered abd sacrificed to idols. Their consciences and faith are weak and so need support from those of strong faith and consciences. The Apostle says, *"However, there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol to this hour eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled."(1 Corinthians 8:7).*
⏹️If such Christians fall from God's grace, then God holds the strong in faith and conscience responsible lasting damage to the lives of the weak in faith and conscience. The Apostle says, *"But if any man say to you, This is offered in sacrifice to idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof"(1 Corinthians 10:28).*
⏭️True, idols don't constitute what is god, for there is one God and one Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord said, *" Know therefore this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath: there is none else"(Deuteronomy 4:39).*
⏭️ Such Christians who do these things sin against their fellow believers and against Christ, it is better not to harm another believer because of knowledge we might have on particular subjects. The Apostle says, "But when you sin so against the brothers, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ"(
1Corinthians 8:12).
*🅰️Appeal*
Eating and drinking permitted food, whether sacrificed to idols or not does not commend people to God. Flesh offered to idols may in itself be as proper for food as any other, what goes into the man of this sort neither purifies nor defiles the person who eats. The Apostle says, *"But meat commends us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse"(1Corinthians 8:8).* Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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